Admissions

The admissions process at National Louis University (NLU) is designed to ensure that students’ needs are properly identified and matched to appropriate degree programs. The Office of Admissions considers individual students through a personalized review which takes into account prior academic record, personal and professional achievement and student goals and objectives. The University reserves the right to change requirements for admission at any time and every non-admitted applicant for a degree program shall be held to compliance with these changes.

NLU enrolls a diverse student population. Through academic and other support services, the University makes every effort to create environments that promote student success and achievement and reflect the diversity of the student population.

Please note:

Many programs have specific admissions requirements. Undergraduate admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the program of your choice.

All graduate students taking graduate courses at National Louis University should understand that credit toward a graduate degree at the University is awarded only upon formal admission to a program of graduate study

Applicants can usually expect a reply to their application within five business days of receipt of all admission documents

Financial assistance cannot be awarded prior to admission

Incomplete applications are inactivated one year from the application date and may be reinstated by submitting an application update form

Inactive and incomplete applications and supporting documents are destroyed three years from the original application date

Documents submitted without an application are destroyed one year after receipt

National Louis University is approved for benefits for the education of veterans, active duty service personnel, disabled veterans, and qualified dependents (widows, war orphans, etc.). A veteran who seeks admission should follow the regular admission policies. For more information visit the veterans benefits page.

The decision to deny admission cannot be appealed

Admissions Pending Students

Applicants who, for valid reasons, cannot complete the application file before registration may be allowed to enroll as Admissions Pending students under the following conditions:

Admissions Pending students must have on file an application for admission and are required to sign a statement prior to registration that they understand the Admissions Pending student policy and believe in good faith that they will meet the requirements for admission. It is the student’s responsibility to make certain that the admission requirements are completed well before the end of the first term of registration.

If the formal admission process is not completed by the end of the first term, the student will be dropped from the program

The decision to deny admission cannot be appealed

Undergraduate Admissions Pending students are not eligible for financial aid

Graduate Admissions Pending students may not be eligible for financial aid. Contact Financial Aid for more information.

Returning to NLU

Re-entry

Students who have previously attended NLU, but have been away from the University for one calendar year or longer, but fewer than five calendar years (excluding the summer session or an approved leave of absence), must submit a Returning Student Form.

Students are subject to degree requirements in effect at the time of re-entry

Students must submit official transcripts of any college work taken since leaving NLU

Students must submit a statement concerning work, educational activities and any other information relevant to re-entry

Readmission

Students who have previously attended NLU, but have been away from the University for five calendar years or longer (excluding the summer session or an approved leave of absence), must submit a new Admissions Application.

Undergraduate Admissions

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Appropriate transcripts (high school or GED for Freshman Admission, or college transcripts for Undergraduate Transfer Admission)

Proof of English language proficiency is required if English is not the applicant’s native language and/or the applicant’s high school degree was earned outside the United States. This requirement may be waived if the applicant has proof of completion of a high school degree at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. Click here for more information on proof of English Language Proficiency.

Freshman Admissions

Freshman students are high school graduates who are first-time college attendees or have fewer than 15 quarter hours of transferable college credit

Freshman applicants must request that their high schools send final transcripts including eighth semester grades and indication of high school graduation

Freshman applicants must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (C average). Applicants with less than a 2.0 GPA may be considered for admission as high potential students.

Undergraduate Transfer Admissions

Entering students who have earned 15 quarter hours or more of transferable credit at another accredited college or university are considered transfer students

Transfer students are required to have a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (C average) and to be in good standing at the college previously attended. Applicants with less than a 2.0 GPA may be admitted as high potential students.

Applicants with coursework in progress at another college or university must submit official transcripts of the completed coursework.

Undergraduate High Potential Students

NLU believes that a change in a student’s learning environment may change his or her academic performance. In that light, NLU will consider applications from students who do not meet the admissions criteria described above. Such students may be admitted on a high potential basis and referred for appropriate assistance to Library and Learning Support or other academic and student support services.

Criteria used in determining whether or not students can be admitted on a high potential basis could include work experience, demonstrated leadership in their community, extracurricular activities, motivation and attitude toward learning or career objectives. The applicant is required to submit a personal statement and two letters of support reflecting his or her academic work or ability. A personal interview may also be required. Some students may be asked to take the skills assessment prior to admission and the results of these tests will be used as a basis for the admission decision.

Completion of courses prior to formal acceptance does not guarantee program admission. It is the student’s responsibility to submit all documents necessary for a decision regarding admission. Admissions decisions will not be made until all documents are received. The student is then notified of formal admission status. Until such notification is given, formal admission to a program is not to be presumed. Credentials will not be returned to applicants.

Admitted students should contact their academic advisors to review degree requirements.

Graduate Admissions

Students applying for graduate admission must meet the following requirements and additionally must meet all of the requirements of the program to which they are applying:

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Some exceptions apply.

Official transcripts from all institutions were degrees where awarded. Some programs may require official transcripts from all institutions attended.

3.0 GPA (there may be exceptions at the college level)

Proof of English language proficiency is required if English is not the applicant’s native language and/or the applicant’s high school degree was earned outside the U.S. This requirement may be waived if the applicant has proof of completion of a high school degree for undergraduate admission, or a bachelor’s degree for graduate admission, at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. Click here for more information on proof of English Language Proficiency.

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria are not eligible for full admission, but may be admitted under two-course or four-course review status, depending on the college. See each college’s graduate admissions requirements for details.

Completion of courses prior to formal acceptance to graduate study does not guarantee admission to graduate school. It is the student’s responsibility to submit all documents necessary for a decision regarding admission to graduate study. Admissions decisions will not be made until all documents are received. The student is then notified of formal admission status. Until such notification is given, formal admission to a graduate program is not to be presumed. Credentials will not be returned to applicants.

Admitted students should contact their advisors to review degree requirements.

International Students

Students Whose Previous Academic Work Was Not in the United States

The following guidelines apply to students whose previous academic work was not in the United States:

U.S. citizens or resident aliens whose previous academic work was from an institution outside the U.S. are required to have their high school transcripts and/or undergraduate transcripts evaluated by one of NLU's approved foreign credential evaluation agencies

Graduate applicants with a baccalaureate degree or college coursework from an institution outside the U.S. are required to have their undergraduate transcripts evaluated by an one of NLU's approved foreign credential evaluation agencies verifying degree equivalence to a U.S. regionally accredited baccalaureate degree

The NLU Office of Admissions and Records will examine foreign transcript evaluations and make a determination of suitability for undergraduate and graduate admission

Nonimmigrant International Students

NLU is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. If you are a resident of a foreign country who wants to study at NLU, please note that you must satisfy the following requirements before your I-20 can be issued. NLU faculty and staff will be there to help you on your way to getting an NLU education.

Be certain that you meet the admission requirements for your program of study.

You must have all of your secondary, college and university foreign transcripts evaluated by one of NLU's approved foreign credential evaluation agencies. The course-by-course evaluation must verify degree equivalency of a level of education equivalent of a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the U.S.

The person(s) paying your tuition and living expenses while you attend NLU must complete and sign an affidavit of support, or a letter of support, in the presence of a Notary Public or First Class Magistrate. You or your sponsor(s) must also provide a financial statement, on business stationery, indicating the amount of funds available in U.S. currency. If the sponsor(s) are U.S. citizens, or self-employed resident(s), they will need to send NLU a copy of the latest income tax return they filed.

You or your sponsors(s) must submit documented proof of sufficient funds to defray all living and school expenses during the first year that you anticipate studying in the U.S.

You must submit a copy of your passport and, if you are currently residing in the U.S., a copy of your U.S. visa stamp and I-94 card as well, if you were issued one.

Veterans

National Louis University is approved for benefits for the education of veterans, active duty service personnel, disabled veterans, and qualified dependents (widows, war orphans, etc.). A veteran who seeks admission should follow the regular admission policies. For more information visit the veterans benefits page.

NLU is in full compliance with the Higher Education Relief Opportunities For Students (HEROES) Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-76). The HEROES Act of 2003 is intended to ensure that service members who are receiving Federal student aid are not adversely affected because of their military status and to minimize the administrative burden placed on such individuals.

In full compliance with the US Department of Education’s Readmission Requirements for Service Members (eCFR §668.18), NLU does not deny readmission to a person who is a member of, applies to be a member of, performs, has performed, applies to perform, or has an obligation to perform, service in the uniformed services on the basis of that membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation to perform service.

NLU will promptly readmit to the institution an individual as described above with the same academic status as the student had when the student last attended the institution or was last admitted to the institution, but did not begin attendance because of that membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation to perform service.